Monday, October 18, 2010

Later that day I finished the hat but I'm holding off taking any more photos of this thing until it's blocked. Blocking might happen tomorrow but I'm not sure... I really enjoyed knitting this hat and it went really fast. Each row of the chart was different enough to keep it interesting but not so different to make it annoyingly difficult. I'll definitely be knitting another one soon and I really recommend this pattern.

I cast on for a Shakti hat this morning. I'll give you an update on that later. For now I'm just home from the bar and off to bed!

Monday, October 11, 2010

I cast on for a Brambles Beret from the latest issue of Knitty today. I'm using some vintage wool yarn that Michelle gave me. The color is such a pretty dusty gold, it reminds me of curry.

I'm excited to knit this hat because I usually just knit my from my own Simple Slouchy Beret pattern (I've probably knit about 15). That pattern is just so easy and mindless and I really like the plain design of it (it is my own pattern after all).

I think Brambles is going to be a really great pattern to knit, it has some cables and texture but not too much craziness. A ton of people have already knit this hat and they all look really cute.

What's your favorite pattern from the new Knitty? Did you make anything today?

Sunday, October 10, 2010

I went to the opening of the Greetings from Mochimochi show at Gallery Hanahou (as I said I would) on Thursday and it was really great. I have just a few photos to share:

There were fat little unicorns prancing up onto a rainbow and getting eaten by big purple guys, and ghosts in a graveyard, a rat-infested city, and a god with an Elvis-stule pompadour sitting on a cloud. There was also a train with a knit cover that would randomly begin whizzing around the track and which made me slightly (and perhaps unreasonably) giddy every time it started up again.

I made a super short video if you'd like to see the train in action.

It has been estimated that everything in the show took 200 balls of yarn and over a million stitches to complete. I think those numbers almost put the enormous amount of work in perspective (but just almost). I strongly suggest that you see this show if you can. It will be on display until October 29. More info is here.

"In her first solo show, craft artist Anna Hrachovec stretches the possibilities of knitting as a medium to create an expansive and wacky landscape installation. Crash-landed aliens, rat-infested skyscrapers, giant ants, and everything else that comprises the 8-foot installation is entirely hand-knitted by the artist, who used 200 balls of yarn and more than a million stitches to make it all come to life. And just for fun, the piece includes a working model train – converted into a silly knitted monster, of course!"

Fun stuff! You can find our more about Anna Hrachovec at Mochimochiland.com where she also maintains a great blog. The opening party is tomorrow from 7-9 pm and I've really been looking forward to it. Openings at Hanahou are always really casual and fun and there's usually a very nice amount of champagne...

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Hi. How are you? I'm fine. It got colder here... Finally. It's even cold enough for me to wear my sweater. I'm starting to like this sweater more the more I wear it. I'm still not totally in love with the fit and design but it does do a good job of keeping me warm.

I'm also knitting a new cardigan. It feels like it's going so so slowly. Right now it's sort of a weird vest. I've started on one of the sleeves but i'm changing the design from a short sleeve cardigan to a long sleeve one, and that makes it even more slow going as I figure out what I want to do. I'm really happy with the yarn I'm using. It's 100% wool from Australia and it's soft but it also feels quite strong. It's also a very nice color. This photo doesn't really show the color well, it's really a pretty goldy-tan color and I like it a whole lot.

And lastly, I will be teaching a Beginning Knitting class this Sunday the 10th! It will be held at Treehouse Brooklyn and it's going to be a lot of fun! I will teach everyone how to knit using chunky knitting needles and we will be making beer coozies that kind of look like beer can sweaters (but not with sleeves or anything cheesy like that). I feel like they are the perfect thing for autumn barbecues and chilly bonfire parties to keep your beers from making your hands cold. Totally appropriate for the season and also perfect for gifts!

I hope you'll take this class with me or consider taking the other rad Treehouse classes coming up this month!

Monday, October 4, 2010

So I know I've been slightly absent lately... But I've been knitting a ton. It's really true. I've been working on gifts and a new cardigan. Here's proof (in case you're skeptical):

This is me knitting at in the backyard of a bar in Williamsburg. And I have some other things to tell you about too. But I'll share more tomorrow. Remember when I mentioned taking a beer brewing class? Well I did indeed brew beer and tonight was the night for bottling said beer.... All 48 bottles of it... And I'm really happy about it but also exhausted.